Talking History of Rolling Stone Magazine

Dr. Hook hit the charts in the mid-70s with “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” as a slight parody suggesting the power the magazine held in the music industry. The heavy-handed hint worked as the band did appear on the cover of Rolling Stone on March 29, 1973. Sadly we hear this week that the remaining (and original) owners of Rolling Stone want to sell.

Rolling Stone magazine began in San Francisco, founded by Jann Wenner and Ralph Gleason. Wenner borrowed $7,500 from family, and soon to be in-laws, to star the magazine. The first print publication on Nov. 9, 1967, with John Lennon on the cover; the newsstand price was 25¢

The Beatles have been on the cover, either as the Beatles or individually, more than 30 times, the Rolling Stones have been on the cover 23 times, Dylan 15 times, Springsteen 12, Hendrix 10 and Madonna 10 a well. The high point was the 70s, the low point for the magazine was the 2014 “A Rape on Campus” about alleged gang rapes on the UVA; the university and police could not find evidence to substantiate the story’s claims.

So Rolling Stone magazine will have a new owner soon, don’t feel bad about its founder Jann Wenner; his net worth is already north of $700 million.